Interfolded sheet dispenser having a starter sheet pull-out system

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for dispensing interfolded disposable sheets is disclosed. The dispenser includes a removable top that is releasably attached to the first sheet in the stack contained in the container. In accordance with the present invention, when the removable top is pulled off the container, the first sheet in the stack is partially withdrawn from the container. After being partially withdrawn, however, the sheet releases from the removable top.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a Continuation Application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/092,029 filed on Mar. 6, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Disposable sheet style dispensers are well-known in the art fordispensing. individual folded sheet products such as facial tissues,hand sheets, wet wipes, or the like. In general, disposable sheetdispensers typically include a container and a stack or clip ofpre-folded, interfolded sheets disposed within the container. The sheetsmay be C-folded, V-folded, or flat so that once the top sheet in theclip is withdrawn, the underlying sheet is individually presented forsubsequent use.

[0003] One of the common problems among disposable sheet dispensersinvolves the issue of “double pull”. This occurs when more than onesheet comes out of the container when the leading sheet is withdrawn.Additionally, the problem of “streaming” can occur in disposable sheetdispensers. Streaming occurs when the user pulls the first sheet out,and subsequent sheets are also withdrawn, with the separation of thefollowing ones never occurring.

[0004] To overcome some of these problems, disposable sheet dispensershave been designed where the dispensing slot is a slit. The use of slitshas worked well in eliminating some of the above problems. Narrow slitsare also well-suited to presenting tissue sheets for subsequent removal.In some applications, however, it is sometimes difficult to remove theinitial sheet from the stack when a slit is present. For instance, theslit can interfere with the ability of a user to grab the leading edge.

[0005] In order to overcome some of these problems, in U.S. Pat. No.4,574,952 to Masui, a box containing facial tissues is disclosed inwhich a tape or strings are attached to the undersurface of the topsheet of the box and, in turn, attached to the upper most of the facialtissues. In this manner, when the box is opened, and the top sheet isremoved along a perforated line, the upper most facial tissue isautomatically removed from the container along with the top sheet.

[0006] Although the top facial tissue is automatically removed from thebox when the box is opened, the tissue may not be usable since it isattached to the removable top sheet of the box. Further, many timestissue boxes are opened for display purposes where a tissue is notinitially needed. In these instances, removal of the first tissue byautomatically opening the box can lead to waste of the leading sheet. Inview of these drawbacks, the present invention is directed to furtherimprovements in interfolded sheet dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In general, the present invention is directed to a dispenser fordispensing interfolded disposable sheets. A stack of interfoldeddisposable sheets are housed within a container. The sheets are arrangedto be withdrawn from the container one after another. The sheets can bevarious paper products, including facial tissues, paper towels,industrial wipers, laboratory wipers, wet wipes, and the like. Thedispensing container includes a removable panel that, once removed,uncovers an opening for withdrawing the sheets.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, the removable panel isattached to a first sheet in the stack of interfolded sheets. Inparticular, the removable panel is attached to the first sheet such thatwhen the removable panel is removed from the dispensing container, thefirst sheet is partially pulled through the opening of the dispensingcontainer without being completely removed from the container.

[0009] An attachment device is used to attach the first sheet in thestack to the removable panel. The attachment device can be, forinstance, a mechanical structure or an adhesive. In one embodiment, theattachment device is a strip of double-sided adhesive tape. For example,in one embodiment, the double-sided adhesive tape has a first side thatis adhered to the removable panel and a second side that is adhered tothe first sheet. In this embodiment, the first side can have a greateradhesive strength than the second side.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first sheet has a first end that isinterfolded with another sheet in the stack. The second end of thesheet, however, is attached to the removable panel and is folded uponitself in an amount sufficient for the first sheet to be partiallyremoved from the dispensing container when the removable panel isremoved. In this manner, resistance to being removed from the containeris increased as the first sheet is pulled through the opening by theremovable panel.

[0011] The dispensing container can be made from various materials andis generally not critical to the present invention. For instance, thedispensing container can be made from paperboard or from a flexiblepolymer film. The dispensing container can be in the shape of arectangular box, a square box, or in the form of any other suitableshape.

[0012] Other features and aspects of the present invention are discussedin greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention is described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a dispenser madein accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG.1 showing the dispenser partially opened;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG.1 showing the top panel of the dispenser removed exposing a sheet ofmaterial available to be withdrawn; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned diagrammatical view of anotherembodiment of a dispenser made in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] Repeat use of reference characters in this present specificationand drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features orelements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of theinvention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in thedrawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of theinvention, and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. Forexample, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment canbe used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It isintended that the present invention includes these and othermodifications and variations.

[0020] In general, the present invention is directed to a dispenser fordispensing interfolded disposable sheets. The disposable sheets can be,for instance, facial tissues, paper towels, industrial wipers,laboratory wipers, wet wipes, and the like. In accordance with thepresent invention, the dispensing container includes a removable panelthat, once removed, uncovers an opening for withdrawing the sheets. Theremovable panel is releaseably attached to the first sheet in the stackcontained within the dispensing container. In accordance with thepresent invention, the removable panel is attached to the first sheet ina manner such that when the panel is removed from the dispensingcontainer, the first sheet is partially withdrawn. Once the sheet ispartially withdrawn, the first sheet then detaches from the removablepanel. In this manner, once the panel is removed from the container, thefirst sheet in the stack is available for easy and immediate removal.

[0021] The dispensing container of the present invention offers variousadvantages. For instance, the invention facilitates removal of the firstsheet out of the dispensing container. Further, the first sheet isremoved from the dispensing container without the risk of more than onesheet being withdrawn unnecessarily.

[0022] Referring to the figures, one embodiment of a dispensingcontainer generally 10 is shown made in accordance with the presentinvention. The dispensing container 10 is for housing facial tissue inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It should beunderstood, however, that various other interfolded disposable sheetscan be contained in a container made in accordance with the presentinvention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, dispensing container 10 containsa clip of interfolded disposable sheets. The clip of interfoldeddisposable sheets 12 as shown particularly in FIG. 4 may be C-folded,V-folded, or configured with respect to one another by any meanscommonly known in the art.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing container 10 includes a pairof sides or walls 16 that are contiguous with another pair of sides orwalls .18. A support side or bottom wall 14 is present and is in contactwith the walls 16 and 18. The interfolded sheets contained within thecontainer generally rest upon the bottom wall 14 in this embodiment.

[0025] Also contiguous with the walls 16 and 18 is a dispensing wall ortop wall 20. The top wall 20 includes a removable panel 22. Removablepanel 22 includes end tabs 26 that are separated by lateral perforations24. In this manner, a user is able to grasp either of the end tabs 26and pull the panel along the perforations 24.

[0026] In general, the dispensing container 10 can be made from variousmaterials. For instance, the container can be made from paperboard orcardboard. Alternatively, the container can be made from plastic films,such as thermoplastic films. Materials used to form the walls of thecontainer can be rigid or flexible.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, a simplified cross-sectional view of thedispensing container 10 is shown. As illustrated, the container 10includes the top wall 20 and the removable panel 22. In this embodiment,as opposed to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the removable panel22 overlaps the top wall 20 and is not attached to the top wall viaperforations. Instead, in this embodiment, the removable panel 22 can beremovably adhered to the top wall.

[0028] As shown, below the top wall 20 is a stack of interfolded sheetsgenerally 12. For purposes of illustration only, 7 interfolded sheetsare illustrated, namely sheets 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40. The sheetsare interfolded together and separated in the drawing for ease ofexplanation.

[0029] The removable panel 22 is positioned over an opening 42 in thetop wall 20. Opening 42 is for withdrawing the sheets from the containerafter the panel 22 has been removed. In this embodiment, the removablepanel further includes an attachment device 44. The attachment device 44is for attaching the first sheet 28 to the removable panel 22. Theattachment device 44 can be, for instance, an adhesive or a mechanicaldevice that connects the first sheet to the panel.

[0030] In accordance with the present invention, the attachment device44 is releaseably secured to the first sheet 28 contained within theinterfolded stack. More particularly, the attachment device is designedto pull a portion of the top sheet 28 through the opening 42 when theremovable panel 22 is removed from the container. After the sheet 28 hasbeen partially withdrawn, however, the attachment device releases thesheet before the sheet is completely removed from the container. This isaccomplished by selecting a particular attachment device 44, selecting aparticular size of opening 42, and/or selecting a particular foldingsystem for the stack of sheets 12.

[0031] For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispensing container10 is shown during and after the removable panel 22 has been pulled offthe container. As shown, as the panel is removed from the container, thefirst sheet 28 is partially withdrawn through the opening 42. The sheetor tissue 28 is left exposed to initiate dispensing from the container10.

[0032] Referring back to FIG. 4, one particular configuration of afolding system for the stack of sheets 12 in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the first sheet 28includes a first end 46 and a second end 48. The first end of the sheet28 is interfolded with the sheet 30. The second end 48 of the sheet 28,however, is folded upon itself. For instance, in this embodiment, thesecond end 48 is folded upon itself twice. It should be understood,however that further or less folds can be used as desired.

[0033] In addition to being folded upon itself, the second end 48 isalso connected to the attachment device 44 which in turn is attached tothe removable panel 22. In this manner, when the panel 22 is removedfrom the container, the second end 48 of the sheet 28 can be easilyremoved from the opening 42 without much resistance. Once the second end48 is removed through the opening 42, however, resistance increases dueto the sheet 28 being interfolded with the sheet 30 and/or due to theresistance of the sheet being pulled through the opening 42. Thisincreased resistance is sufficient to release the second end 48 of thefirst sheet 28 from the attachment device 44, leaving the sheet 28partially exposed.

[0034] The attachment device 44 used in the present invention can varydepending upon the particular application and the type of sheet materialto be removed from the container. In general, the attachment device 44must bind to the second end 48 of the sheet 28 an amount necessary topull the second end of the sheet through the opening 42 but, yet beinsufficient to be capable of pulling the entire sheet through theopening. In other words, an attachment device 44 is chosen in accordancewith the present invention that will attach to the sheet 28 with anamount of force sufficient to pull a portion of the sheet through theopening but insufficient to overcome the force necessary to completelyremove the first sheet from the container.

[0035] In one embodiment, for instance, the attachment device 44 is apressure sensitive adhesive applied to the panel 22. The particular typeof adhesive that can be used, will depend upon the type of sheetscontained within the container and the construction of the container.

[0036] In one particular embodiment of the present invention, theattachment device is a two-sided adhesive tape. In this embodiment, thetwo-sided adhesive tape can include a first side that is attached to theremovable panel 22 and a second side that is attached to the second endof the sheet 28. The first side of the double-sided tape can have agreater adhesive force than the second side to allow for the sheet 28 tobe released from the removable panel 22 after the sheet has beenpartially withdrawn from the opening 42.

[0037] In this embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive that isused to attach the double-sided tape to the removable panel 22 can beany of many suitable adhesives with permanent adherence characteristics.The second side of the tape, however, can contain a releasable adhesive,such as the adhesives used on POST-IT notes marketed by the 3MCorporation of St. Paul, Minn. Such adhesives are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,045,569; 4,988,567; 4,994,322; 4,786,696; 4,166,152; 3,857,731;and 3,691,140, which are all incorporated herein reference. For example,the pressure sensitive adhesive can comprise polymeric microsphereshaving an average diameter of at least 1 micrometer. The microspherescan include about 70 parts by weight of an alkyl acrylate or alkylmethacrylate ester. Such adhesives can be formulated to have aparticular peel adhesion for use in the present invention.

[0038] In addition to the use of adhesives, the attachment device 44 canalso be a mechanical attachment structure. Examples of mechanicalattachment structures include, for instance, breakaway strings, staples,pins, or other grasping type devices that can releasably attach to aninterfolded disposable sheet.

[0039] In addition to the attachment device selected in the presentinvention and the folding system used to interfold the sheets, the sizeand construction of the opening 42 in the removable panel 22 can also beused to assist in carrying out the objectives of the present invention.In particular, the opening 42 can be designed to increase the resistanceplaced on the sheet 28 as it is withdrawn from the container forfacilitating release between the sheet 28 and the removable panel 22.

[0040] In general, however, an enlarged slot or opening is used in thetop wall 20 of the container to allow the attachment device 44 to adhereto the first sheet 28. For example, in one embodiment, when designing atissue dispenser, the opening can be approximately 5 to about 6 incheslong and can be approximately ½ to about ¾ inches wide. In thisembodiment, the attachment device can be an adhesive strip that isapproximately ½ inch wide and can be placed generally in the center ofthe removable panel 22. It should be understood, however, that manyother dimensions and variations can be used in the present invention.

[0041] These and other modifications and variations to the presentinvention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art,without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention,which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. Inaddition, it should be understood that aspects of the variousembodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoingdescription is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit theinvention so further described in such appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for dispensing sheets comprising: adispensing container housing a stack of disposable sheets that are to bewithdrawn one after another, the sheets being arranged such that, once atop sheet is withdrawn from the container, an underlying sheet isindividually presented for subsequent use, the dispensing containerincluding a removable panel that, once removed, uncovers an opening forwithdrawing the sheets, the removable panel being configured to becompletely removed and separated from the dispensing container, theremovable panel being attached to a top sheet in the stack of sheets,wherein, when the removable panel is removed and separated from thedispensing container, the top sheet is partially pulled through theopening of the dispensing container.
 2. A dispenser as defined in claim1, wherein the opening comprises a slit.
 3. A dispenser as defined inclaim 1, wherein the top sheet has a first end and second end, thesecond end being interfolded with another sheet in the stack, the firstend being attached to the removable panel and being folded upon itselfin an amount sufficient for the top sheet to be partially removed fromthe dispensing container when the removable panel is removed.
 4. Adispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein the first end of the top sheetis folded upon itself at least twice.
 5. A dispenser as defined in claim1, wherein the top sheet is mechanically attached to the removablepanel.
 6. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the top sheet isadhesively attached to the removable panel.
 7. A dispenser as defined inclaim 1, further comprising a strip of double-sided adhesive tape thatattaches the top sheet to the removable panel.
 8. A dispenser as definedin claim 7, wherein the double-sided adhesive tape has a first side andsecond side, the first side being adhered to the removable panel, thesecond side being adhered to the top sheet, the first side having agreater adhesive strength than the second side.
 9. A dispenser asdefined in claim 1, wherein the stack of disposable sheets compriseinterfolded facial tissues.
 10. A dispenser as defined in claim 1,wherein the dispensing container is in the shape of a rectangular box.11. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the dispensing containeris in the shape of a square box.
 12. A dispenser as defined in claim 1,wherein the removable panel is surrounded by perforations that attachthe panel to the dispensing container.
 13. A dispenser as defined inclaim 1, wherein the dispensing container is made from paperboard.
 14. Adispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the dispensing container ismade from a polymer.
 15. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein thedisposable sheets comprise wet-wipes.
 16. A dispenser for dispensingwet-wipes comprising: a dispensing container housing a stack ofwet-wipes that are to be withdrawn one after another, the wet-wipesbeing arranged such that, once a top sheet is withdrawn from thecontainer, an underlying sheet is individually presented for subsequentuse, the dispensing container being made from a thermoplastic polymer,the dispensing container including a removable panel that, once removed,uncovers an opening for withdrawing the wet-wipes, the removable panelbeing adhered to the dispensing container and being configured to becompletely removed and separated from the dispensing container, theremovable panel being attached to a top wet-wipe and, wherein, when theremovable panel is removed and separated from the dispensing container,the top wet-wipe is partially pulled through the opening of thedispensing container.
 17. A dispenser as defined in claim 16, whereinthe top wet-wipe is mechanically attached to the removable panel.
 18. Adispenser as defined in claim 16, wherein the top wet-wipe is adhesivelyattached to the removable panel.
 19. A dispenser as defined in claim 16,wherein the dispensing container is in the shape of a rectangular box.